The first Infection Prevention and Containment Conference (IPCC) held on 12 May in Nottingham, UK brought together experts from a range of contamination control and healthcare sectors to discuss the impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on healthcare practices and HCAI-reduction in hospitals.

In his keynote presentation, Alan Johnson from the National Infection Service, Public Health England (PHE) looked at the current situation of antibiotic resistance, informing delegates that there is now is some degree of resistance to every single antibiotic licensed for clinical use.

AMR is a major concern, he explained, because of the increasing use of invasive surgery, catheters, ventilators, and drugs that affect the immune system, which means that a growing number of patients have suppressed immune systems and are at greater risk of infection.

He also explained that simply finding a new antibiotic, as in the past, may not be viable in the future: ‘The drug development pipeline is at an all-time low’ he said adding, ‘we do not have any blockbusters coming along that are likely to solve the problem of AMR’.

Topics covered by the other speakers included: Engineering innovative mobile hospital containment systems; clothing as a vector and barrier in infection transmission and laundering considerations in terms of contamination control; managing water systems with reference to preventing legionella and pseudomonas infections; disinfectant wipes and sprays and how to ensure cleaning regimes are effective; and shared insights on the implementation of the national evidence-based guidelines for preventing HAIs – Epic3 – in some very challenging environments.

Dr Bharat Patel, Consultant, Medical Microbiologist and AMR & HCAI Lead, PHE, summed up the day with a review of changes in legislation, practice and guidance, in particular, looking at the new Healthcare Associated Infection Quality Standard – QS 113.

The day was chaired by Susie Singleton, national lead for HCAI and Infection Prevention and Control for the Operations Directorate within PHE, and ended with a lively panel discussion on questions and issues raised at the event.

With 80+ delegates and 12 exhibitor companies in attendance, Event Manager Ali Badr declared this first Infection Prevention and Containment Conference to be a success and one that organiser HPCi Media would look to build on with a two-day event next year.